Grout expanding elastic seal



Nov. 9, 1943. s n- ETAL 2,333,826

GROUT EXPANDING ELASTIC SEAL Filed Aug. 30, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 EMA/K F (SM/TH 6 CHARLES H 734 UL INVENTORS.

ATTORNEY.

No 9, 1943. F F, S T H ETAL 2,333,826

GROUT EXPANDING ELASTIC SEAL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2' Filed Aug. 30, 1940 a I} f! y- 10 77 ?A/v/r FSM/TH iiii FAFFL5 Flt/L INVENTORS.

' ATTORNEY.

1943' F. F. SMITH ETAL 2,333,826

GROUT EXPANDING ELASTIC SEAL Filed Aug. 30, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet s /i\ 6 7'7?A NK F'- SM T INVENTORS.

CHARLES H. H B

ATTORNEY.

Patented Now-9, 1943 2,333,826 ICE.

" icitou'raxmnpn ze ELASTIC SEAL Frank Folsom Smith, Denver, 0010., and Charles Howard Paul, Dayton, l1io;,-Camilla-W. Paul, executrix ofi said charle s-"Howard Paul, de-

ceased, .saidsexecutrig assignor to. Camilla W.

Paul

Application August so, 1940 Serial No.354,8 06

paste and aggregate mixtureis setting and hard- 5 ening', develop a relatively'high temperature due to the chemical reactions that occur during that period, and; this temperature rise is accompanied by the. inevitable expansionof the concrete mass,

so that its bulk' becomes appreciably larger during this hydration period, It is aftergrowth'or increase in'physical dimensions causedi by" the chemical reactions with attendant temperature rise within its mass, followed by its gradual cooling when these chemical reactions have run their complete cycles and'cease to developfurtherheat, that it begins to contract as its temperature'ial'ls, and in so doingeither cracks at more or less regular intervals if no contraction joints have been provided, or shrinks away at these-joints; if

they have not been properlylocated; leaving an interstice between adjacent faces through which fluid leakage, either inwardly or outwardly, may occur, as circumstances dictate. y, I f

Our invention is a method and;apparatuswhereby the contraction joints or planesfloi shrinkage. separation. are caused to occur in those predetermined localities in the concrete a .i K (01; 725-106) This inventionrelates tothe sealingof the cold structure separated by said joints, so that the structure will set essentially asa monolithic whole; i

An objective of"ourinvention is toprovide means built into concrete structures at predetermined locations best adapted structurally to insure that the contraction of the concrete mass subsequent to the thermal expansion occurring during the hydration and curing process, will cause separation between th various portions of the structure to occur within and at those precise locations defined by the inbuilt elements 'ofoufiinvention. r

An objective of our invention is means for'sealing contraction cracks due to reducingtempera tures occurring within concrete structures, which will-be eifectiveas'soon as the struc'ture" has cured suific'ieritly to be capable of being put into use;;aiid'-will"continue to be eirective even if a furtlierseparatibn within reasonable limits later occurs between adjacent concrete faces at these permitthe later introduction of groutingma terial into the lowest portion of the sealing system first/allowing it to drive the air contained in the system before it as it progressively fills the system with grout so that the air is moved toa higher and" higher level until finally the grout material reaches the highest part of the system,

"completely filling same, andbegins to discharge "through the airvent or vents which wahave structure which are most desirable from astruce placed at the uppermost part of said system,

tural or utility standpoint, and'wliich, during the cooling. and shrinkage period, as" well as throughout the later life ofthe structure jaftercooling and shrinkage has been consummated; effectively seals off these shrinkage interstices againsteither a inwardintrustion or outward leakage and at, the same time forms 'efiective keying: means, or,

'terialfl effect in; maintaining the, continuity of action of the complete structure in resi'sting deiormation andattendant stresses that th 'struca ture has beendesigned to withstand j An objective of our'finventi'on isto provide a simple. positive and economical method "and means for sealing against the intrusion or escape of fiuidor gaseous substances throughthecold "thereby assuringcomplete ejection of air, and

"complete fillingof the grouting'space or spaces withi'nlthe sealing system'.

An'obj ective of our invention is asealing-"systerm for structures cast from" concrete; liquid stone, placeableplastic, orsimilar flowablemateiialswhich "will" later solidify and become rigid during their curing periods;- in which thesealing mints or cQnStTl1ct,in l l 123,01 contractio icints, in concrete structures,, that will be effective as soon the concrete in such'structureshas hardened and. curedLsUilicientIY, to make it capable of withstanding the usageior which itj is intended... I v v J 2 P An obiective of our invention is to provide means whereby an effective resistanceiin shear is located at contraction and construction; joints system includes tubular'membersof an elastic material such as rubber, neoprenefll hiokol or "othersimilar Synthetic plastics, embedded at predetermined locations within such structures, with said elasticktubes either independentor interconnected in such manner asto make a complete closurecircuit at each predetermined joint location andusor arranged, that cement grout or similar mixtures can be injected into inlets at the; lowest p rtion of. each system,.and,the entire groutreceiving, space in each system filled there- ,with, whereupon. the air venting orifices at the top-of thesystem are then closed and additional grout under pressure is pumpedthereinuntil the elastic tubes are expanded in their interior diameters by from ten to teen percenhtthereby in concrete structures insuring against lateral q putting the material composing the walls of the displacement or" those adjacent portions of the tubes into heavy'co'mpression tending 'to expand their outer diameters, and forcing their outer surfaces to flow into all voids and interstices in the adjacent surfaces of the concrete within which they are embedded.

A further objective of our invention cumferential hoop-like sealing means in'tlie is a cir-.

transverse construction or contraction joint faces of concrete lined tunnels 'orconduits; wherein the grouting material employed tofill a hollow 3? 1 plastic elastic sealing member maybe introduced at the highest portion of the hoop and constrained to flow down one side'of the'hoop to its lowest portion and then fill the opposite. side of the hoop from the bottom upwards, driving the .air before it and out of the topmost, portion of the hoop through a valves orifice closely adjacent to the inlet orifice where the grout material is being introduced, ,a, diaphragm being interposed between said closely adjacent inlet and outlet orifices to direct the incoming'groutmaterial into its proper channel and thereby insure free egress of the air from within as the grout fills the space.

The foregoing and the .inven tion will be. made clear. as the description continues, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, but before proceeding with a detailed description it is believed desirable to pointout a few specific uses,

' of the many, to which this invention may readily be applied, such as-the construction joints in large swimming poolswhere it is important that leakage outwardly therethrough be stopped, to

other salient features-of pressure conduits carrying water to turbines whereby power is developed and where, in many cases, the high fluid pressure in such conduits,

if allowed to escape through construction joints, however small, and into adjacent seams in the rock, as incase of pressure tunnels, would gradually build up hydrostatic pressure over progressively widening areas'until finally the force so generated'would become greater than the rock could withstand and serious damage or destrucinevitably ensue. The invention is especially advantageous when applied to municipal aqueducts carrying water for domestic use over a long .course of varying elevations, where the low portions are subjected to heavy internal pressures and mother portions. as on the crests of hills, may actually beserving as siphons so that negative pressure is present within, tending tosuck ground water through any joints not sealed, and

the 'inventions capacity to seal against intrusion as well as outward leakage thereby prevents the entrance of the ground water 1 in such areas of negative pressures and-thus preserves-the wathe conduit frombeing;

crete culverts, flume's, dams, pontoons, caissons,.

ter or other fluidwithin contaminated. The invention may be readily appliedto consewers and sewerage-works, subaqueous tubes for train and automobile traffic under rivers, retaining walls, tanks, bins, foundations, vaults,roofs and, in short, to any large concrete structure,

or other plastic moldedstructures, 'where either inward or outward passage of fluidfiunder pressure is to be, restrained, or where monolithic action of the structure in compression and in shear is desired, or both. [It will be understood by those skilled in the art, that while we have, given a few specific uses herein, there are many more other uses to which the invention may be applied with equalffacility, without departing from tion of the conduit and associated workswould. H

with the hose connection nipple clamped in place specifications and claims.

Reference is now made to the accompanying thej'scope of the invention as" defined by these drawings in which Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing a fragmentary portion of the wood form or lag .Iging defining'what will later be a joint face of the concrete structure wherein the joint sealing mechanism is to be installed after concrete has been poured upon'the right hand side of the I form. Fig. 2 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 1. after the concrete on right of joint has been placed and has hardened. In this view the form has been removed and a tubular sealing member ,isheld in place in the half; roundgroove prewith the curing process is indicated as now having occurred, leaving a "contraction, crack between the concrete on the right andlthe concrete on the left. The cooperating parts as shown'in this. figure are now-ready for the final sealing operation, consisting. of ,theinjection of grout under pressure into theinterior of the tubular member. l

, Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 4, but Twith the' final sealing operation com} pleted.

Fig. 6 shows atypical pressureaqueduct tun- W nel through rock with the invention applied thereto. V

Fig. 'lis an enlargeddetail at of 6, I

ing the upper face of. the concrete liningfin the tunnel. invert prior to the placing of concrete in the upper portion of the tunnel'arch; f

Fig.8 is an enlarged detailrat B 'of age,

showing, the grout. expanded s'ealingmember in place in one of the transverse joints in theconcrete tunnel lining, with the hose connections forintroducing grout. f Fig. 9 is an enlarged vertical section taken upon the plane 9-9'of Fig. v8, showing. a vertical' extensionof the tubularsealing member,

by a hose clamp. I .Fig. 10 shows the'lower end of vertical extension of Fig's. G and 12 prior to its being vulcamzed into the correspondingly shaped. notch inFig. 11. I

' Fig. 11 shows the. tubular member, notched out toreceivesimilarly shaped lower end of the vertical extension of Fig. 10, before vulcanizing into place. i

Fig. 12 shows the lower portion of the vertical extension ,of Fig-,10 after it has been vulcanized in position to form the Tishaped connection extending upwardsfto'meceive hose connection nipple and the connection seen in Figs. 8 and 9.

, Fig. 13 shows a joint 'between the ends of any two adjacent tubular members, with the connection sleeve shown in location therein.

v Fig. 14 shows a typical pressure aqueduct, the lower or invert concrete which is first poured,

protruding beyond the completed arch portion tothe right, and exposing a modified form of theinvention; and

Fig. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary yiewufFig} 7 14, illustrating the manner...,of segregatingone portion ofthe longitudinal joint, member from -'the next rad-iacent portion by'. rthe: :sol t unubber diaphragm partition in lthe {molded ambber out- .letrmanifold. p

in the :accompanyingrdrawings illustratmg gthe invention, like partsarezsimilarly flflsigngwd throughout.

.In the application :of the -.ention tit of prime importance that the:elasticrtuhularssealis applied to its interior thereby, there will the :no

restraint flfithe expansive enlaxrgementiloy the oaresenceroi 'metallic or other monielastic'lfittings as would she the icaseiwerelconventional' "hose- I joining connections :used whenever. one z'len'gths teirnina'l is awesome- 1 in fluid-pressure tight lcon tinuity with the inexti one; or mere ver a side 4 connection is to be similarly made -t'o--'a main tubular member.

This Treedtimcof -efxpansion by action of interior pressurein every portion f the .:tubular member or members, enibeddedwithin the concrete structure where roomplete sa ling is essential, is accomplished hysquaning the ends of the tubular membersli, g'l igs l-ti'rthat areto be joinedra'nd t'hen inserting a relativelythin walllod tubularoonn'ection sleeve T6 into-the ends of the tubular members it .i'an d ihringing ther'n "togetherafter "their Iin'teri'or cylindrical .sunfaceof 1i; have been coated-with :an appropriate elasti'c' cement similar to tire patch rubber cement. Usually the jointing process just d'escrfloed will he sufficient grouting prossu-re will be "very high, we then apply a portable v-uloanizi-ng forrn over-the' joints which have previously been made 'u'p with the connection-sleeves as {just described, and the resultingthermal action supplied bythe ize-r fuse theparts in separa bly together into single unit. similar iriajnn'er a T shaped vulcanizer is used to clamp the pro-shaped tubular member s shown in Fig. 11 to the-matingiy shaped lower end of the vertical extension 13 shown in Fig. I0, in proper relationship andfirm contact, and vulcanize theminto a smgle page as shownin Fig. I

By meikingthe join-tin thisway insure 'practic'ally uniform expans' lon offith'e tubular members at their jointu-res and-j-unctionswith that occurring in "every other portion'of their,-

lengths and thereby make their sealing action continuous throughout every portion "of their embedded lengths. Wherever exterior prolongation'so-f thetu'oular members 5 are necessary to permitfinjection of. Y the grout, as at B and E-in Fig. BandBin 8, and for air venting as at F in Fig; 6; i't fisfnot essential that those portions whichprotrude 'heyond the concrete should possess thisexpansion property inasmuch as thoseporti'ons are not-eh,- fective and are not require'dto sea-l ofipassage of 'fiuid as is the case where .they 'are' embedded.

This being true, conventionalinetallicfhosekconnection nipples M, Fig. '9,'hose clamps I5 (see also Fig. "8),and hose, connection couplings 12 can be and are empl'oyed, since their restraint of the tubular members 6.expansivepropertiesin these localities are immaterial. I

In pressure aqueducts and tunnels similar to that shown in FigI-fi, the larger sizes it is usuallyf.custernary to driveithetunneli i. 6.,neX- i. cavaterthe rock, .and then; place 1 the c0ncrete;. lin ing .in the inverts orzbottom' first, with extensions znunningiuppaishortzdistance on either side-,aand

' 5 iterminating" in planes, parallel to the? longitudinal :axlsrofsthetunnel as seen at GinFig. 6, and shown Lagain somewhat enlarged in Fig. 7. :Temunating the concretelining first placed "at .cthese; planes JG, -as just described, will obviously ulo automatically form longitudinal cold :joints or :placingthe.next lift'of concrete lining, whichin y larger sizetunnel structures, usually terminates in similan longitudinal planes as shown at I-I'in -.:-T Fig. fiiqwhiohzlikewise in their turn are provided with-tubular sealing memherswand grout injecting kconneotions h As will be seen in Fig. 7, we preferablyisolate @the transverse sealing installations from the longitudinalscaling, installations. as this makes the systems simpler and easier to install, saves the interconnectingcjoints and makes it possible to 5 pressure grout and seal each: joint independently; Qcoasionally special. conditions-make it desirable '35. or. necessary to departirom' this practice; inwhich case the longitudinal sealing: members "can then he interconnected tothe transverse jointsealing members. M

In Ior'mingthe recess in the concrete we ruse A half :roun'd pieces 2, Fig. 1, 'to shape the'ha'lf round grooves inrthe concrete first placed, which :will later receive the tubularmembers 6. These arhalf' roundr fcrrning pieces 2 may bemade of fin- J: fished wood where straight grooves are required, particularly if they are of considerable lengthJJut -:-Where; curving grooves :are required; particularly fifthey-areof considerable length, such. as that =shownr in Fig. 719.1; llytheh wepreferably employ vmay lbebent and curved toconform with the curves desired and then :continue' the tangent lengths with half round wooden forms again. In. the'foregoing description the :method of fillingithertransversejoint sealing :tubular members with; groutifrom the bottom allowsthegrout l l to rdriverthe airaoutcabove it'until the grout reaches the highest portion of'thesystem, whereupon the air escape orifice, or orifices if a dual fitting l8 segregating diaphragm l B,*seeFi"g. 15, is used sat'FinFig. 6, at the high point is closed and the -=final predetermined.grouting pressure is applied to the sealin 'system'fromthe fittingat B in the lnvert'of thetunnel. In certain instancesit is sometimes necessary; or' desirablegto depart from this systernhy 'injecting the grout in at the high *pointofithe system through one leg of adual manifold fitting such as that showninFig. 15,

where'the diaphragm! allows the grout t'o g0 down only on that side where, af ter'removing one 'of the pipe '2 I, the grout fitting has been 'connected, Themating'pipe cap ,2! is likewiserenioved in such a case and a suitable'gate or ,globe valve, screwed onto the nipple 20, and by opening Pi e-t e w i mail- 5, 1: sa esp rrubber. or-some other similar flexible material that claim as new and "2.=In'a concrete or other ture, sections having grooves in adjacent section structures with expansible sealing means embed- ?4. --ber. 6 is allowed to escape as the V grout is introaueea through the adjacent nipple The grout as it descends downward around one side of the :hoop encircling the conduit bore drives the air out before it up through the other side of the hoop and.

out through this valve. As soon'as the system has beenfilled-and grout' starts to flow through the valve,-th'e valve-is then closed and the final grout sealing pressureis then applied to produce the required compression-within the sealing sys-- team as hereinbefore described;

'Fro the'foregoing it will be seen that our invention provides'a simple-and inexpensive sys tem and apparatus for sealing construction and contraction joints in concrete structures whereby they are made fluid tight at such joints even after some movement may occur subsequent to their original application, and that such structures that made in it without departin from the spirit of our invention. c

Having now described our invention, what we Patent is: i

' 1. In a' concrete or other plastic molded structurefsections having grooves in adjacentfsection -faces cooperativeto provide peripheral recesses, expansibleimembers 'in'said recesses and continu ous peripherally, and means permanently expanding said members into pressure contact with the walls of the recesses.

plastic molded strucdesire to secure by Letters "essence *de'dbetweenthesections'whichcomprisesrpour- "ing the 'one"sec'tion with aIormed-groovei'or a portion of the sealing means, placingthe sealing 'means in the groove,-pouring the adjacent sec- "tion; and permanently expanding the sealing 8; The method of forming sectional concrete structures with expans'ible sealing means embed- 'ded between the sections which comprises predc termining ultimate.:sectionalization, embedding resilient uniformly expansible'sealing means-between-the sections as poured, and permanently expanding the sealing means fOllOwing thG cur-- ing period.- l.

. '9.1The "method: of forming sectional-concrete structures with uniformly expansible resilient walledsealing meansembedded between the sec ;--tions which comprises predetermining the ulti- -include the embodiment of our invention are also. -in-' consequence caused to act m'on'olithicallyagainst lateral displacements, and, While we have illustrated" and described but one application'of the preferred construction and arrangementof the-inventionto satisfy the patent'statutes, we do -n'ot"wish to be limited to the construction and arrangements shown, as changes mayobviously be .a recess-which includes the stepsoi inserting a 1 tubular. elastic member substantially filling .the'

- tubular members between section faces, joining I ifilling inlet tubes thereto, and expelling the. air

:matesectionalization, embedding the expansible 'sealingmeans between the sections as poured, and permanently expanding: the sealing means-to place the walls thereof under compression following the curing period; r

,10. The method of sealing adjacent sections of a concrete structure comprising sections having adjacentiaces cooperatingly grooved to'provide recess, andthen pumping-a hardening substance into .thetubular member to remove the airfand permanently completelyfill and expand the member into pressure contact with the walls of the recess.

11. The system of which consists in predetermining sectionalization, embedding connected flexible elastic walled irom the tubular memberswhile filling the same faces cooperative to provide peripheral recesses,

I expansible resilient members in said recesses-and continuous peripherally, and means permanently expanding'saidmembers into pressure contact withithe'wallsof the recess;

3. In a concrete or other plasticmolded structure,usections having grooves in adjacent section faces cooperative to provide recesses, expansible resilient hollow members in said recesses, and

means permanentlyexpanding said members into pressure contact with the walls of the recesses.

4. In a concrete orother plastic molded struc- -ture, sections having grooves in adjacent section faces cooperative .to provide a recess, an'ex- .shear with respect to the sections.-

.6. In a concreteor other'plastic molded structure, sections having grooves in adjacent sec- ,tion ;f aces cooperative to provide a recess, a tubular resilient walled member in said recess and coextensive therewith-and a core'of rigid material expanding said resilient member permanently into pressure contact with the recess walls,said

core being. located in shear with respect to the sections;

completely with a self-hardening material underv pressure suflicient to expand the flexible elastic wall of' the .tubular members into permanent compression against the embedding section faces. 12. The methodof constructing atubular-concrete structure which comprises casting the bot- .tom' portion in successive sections with longitudinal grooves at the-designed juncture with up- ;per. sections to be superimposed, forming grooves ,i nadjacent end faces of meeting sections, filling the grooves with continuous elastic walled tubu lar elements of uniform expansibility, casting the upper sections, filling the grooves in the end faces of the upper and bottomisections, each with V a similar continuous elastic tubular element an d pressure'expanding thetubular elements withfe. I fluid-hardening agent in a manner to compress the walls ofthe tubular elements and provide. a

rigid core therein throughout. 1

13,, In a sealing means for concrete for injecting-an expanding filler into said joined sections, v

14. In a sealingmeans for concrete structures, flexible elastic tubular sections, asleeve of elastic material inserted and cemented in the adjacent ends of sections to join the same into aring, and means for filling the ring with arigid core.

, ,15. Ina sealing member for concrete structures,

a"deformable tubularlength, filler andxvent' mtingsjoining the ends of said length, and at least one diaphragm intermediate the fittings tolreg- "ulate the directio n offflow.

7. The'method of forming'sectional concrete FRANK FOLSQM smrrHI, CHARLES HOWARD PAUL.

sealing concrete structures s s structures. e1ast1c tubular sections, means flexibly and elastically jointing said sections interiorly, and means a 

